EA didn’t do anything to help its reputation with gamers earlier this year when SimCity was released. The game requires an Internet connection to play even though it didn’t need one, there were server issues, you can’t get a refund easily, and complaints continue about the gameplay. And to top it all off EA wants $9 for a DLC pack that adds airships and balloons.

To say SimCity has been a disaster, for gamers and EA’s PR department, is an understatement. And ever since release I have wondered what the staff at developer Maxis thought of all this. Now we know, as the creative director, lead architect, and lead gameplay engineer have all quit.

Losing those three key people from a game EA is clearly hoping will continue to sell for a few years must be a blow. However, it’s more telling to look at what they are leaving to do instead.

Creative director Ocean Quigley has left to form his own games company named Jellygrade. And the genre of games he will be creating is simulations, just like SimCity is. Lead architect Andrew Willmott and lead gameplay engineer Dan Moskowitz are both joining him. As they are such a small team, they are targeting mobile devices for their first game.

Tweeting about the decision, Quigley commented that it was time for something new after spending 17 years working on SimCity games. However, when it is suggested he avoid EA in future, Quigley responds by tweeting “I’m done with EA, this is a small, independent studio.”

This trio of developers working together on games free of publisher influence should definitely have simulation fans excited. There’s no shortage of talent and experience here, and you can bet that EA will be watching closely to see what they manage to produce.